There is a saying in the world of politics; “Need a poll, buy a poll.” It hinges on the understanding that the human psyche is geared toward a desire to be apart of the larger crowd. You see, no one desires to be known as being “outside the mainstream” of society. Thus, the various election polls you see at this time of the year. Many of the media outlets release various polls depending on their likes and dislikes.
Polling data is something that I find interesting but it is not something I always place a dependence on. If you will notice the election polls mentioned earlier, you will find that CNN commissions the polls they report and Fox commissions separate polls for their reports. If the polls do not come back affirming their position it is never released. However, most polling experts agree they can predict how the polls will be returned based on the questions asked. Not only can they determine the data results but they can do so simply because of the way the questions are worded. These polling experts study how they are not supposed to word questions because of a “leading” quality in the question. However, it is that discipline used in forming the poll that can be misused in order to bring about desired results. Which brings me to my title questions; Why another poll? How does it help?
Why another poll?
The Lifeway SBC Pastor Survey 2012 covers a gambit of issues. It begins with leading questions about the upcoming recommendation to the convention concerning the addition of a nickname. It ends with statements concerning the percentages of Cooperative Program (CP) giving. When I say leading I mean the survey presupposes a nickname is a foregone conclusion. There were three questions asked about the nickname with two questions being presented with statements of fact before the question. Notice the first “statement of fact” that is given.
In February the task force appointed to consider a possible name change for the Southern Baptist Convention recommended that its legal name remain the Southern Baptist Convention.
